Tinsel garland



Aug. 19, 1930.

B E' FRANKE TINSEL GARLAND Filed May 28, 1929 Patented Aug. 19, 1930 BERNARD E. FRANKE, OF

PATENT OFFICE CATONSVILLE, MARYLAND TINSEL GARLAND Application iled May 28,

The invention relates to a tinsel ornament known to the trade as tinsel garland, the same being used as a Christmas decoration on- Christmas trees and for` Shop windows, Christmas gardens and the like and for other decorative purposes. As now in use, this consists of a core or cord which is ordinarily of cotton or other suitable material composed of several strands with which transverse strips of tinsel are interwoven. These tinsel strips, which are ordinarily about an inch long, project radially in all directions from the cord, the bright tinsel strips giving the effect of a tinsel brush which ordinarlly is about an inch in diameter and of indeiinite length.

This product, known as tinsel garland, as

-at present made and offered for sale, is of reduced luminosity on account of the nonrelecting nature of the core or cord which, being opaque, absorbs and diffuses instead of reflecting the rays of light which come in contact with it. v In addition to the general eEect of low luminosity resulting from the nature of the central cord or strand, this cord becomesv under certain lighting conditions and from certain viewpoints, most objectionably prominent Ainits contrast with the tinsel on account of its lack of lustre..A The object of the presentinvention is to crease the luminosity of the garland and reduce the prominence'offthe cord or core of textile or similar iibre by giving it a reiiectingsurface of an appearance similar to that of the' tinsel strips and of substantially equal lustre.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a tinsel garland embodying the invention in the preferred form. n

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of a short section of tinsel garland looking at the same at right angles to the axis, i. e., to the length.

Figure 2 is a similar elevation of a short length of the garland shown on an enlarged scale, the tinsel strips being omitted from the lower end of the core or cord forming the center, and the extreme end of the core being shown as unravelled to illustrate the individual strands which are in turn partially unravelled at their ends, the outer radial ends 1929. serial No. 366,576.

of the tinsel strips being broken awayv for convenience of illustration. Y

Figure 3 is an elevation of one of these strands ready to be used in the manufacture of the garland, the same being shown on a scale corresponding to Figure 2.

Figure 4-is a transverse section through the same on line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the different figures, the construction shown comprises a short section ,of tinsel garland indicated in a general way by reference character l. This garland consists of a central cord or core 2' and transverse substantially radial or diametrical tinsel strips 3, which are interwoven at their centers with the strands 4: of the cord, so that Ythe end portions 5 of the strips 3 on each side of the center project on all sides of the core to cord 2 in substantially radial directions, givin@r theei'ect of a tinsel brush or garland ofl ineiinite length,- and in accordance l'with the usual commercial practice-about an inch -in diameter, although the exact diameter is immaterial. The garland as thus described is a regular Well known commercial product of some years standing. A. Y

4 On account/of the lack of lustre of the'cen- Y tral core or cord 2, which is opaque and otherl .wise of alight absorbing and diffusing nature, this cord is unduly conspicuous, greatly reducing the total or apparent luminosity of the tinsel, particularly'when it appears in a mass of several lengths of the garland laid together or superimposed. This eiect is most conspicuous at certain angles in which the tinselstrips are seen from the ends or edges instead of from the fiat sides.

To overcome this diiioulty and reduce the light diifusing and absorbing effect of the central core or cord, the applicant has devised an economical and effective method of covering and concealing the cord by imparting to it substantially the saine reflecting properties as are possessed by the tinsel strips.

In the preferred form of the invention, this is accomplished by wrapping each ofthe 'individual strands 4 with a strip of tinsel 6 as best illustrated in Figure 3which shows the number, although the exact number of strands is not, of course, of importance. In accordance with the prevailing commercial practice, the tinsel strips are aliixed to the core by placing them between the strands as the latter are twisted or braided into the core, the tinsel strips being thus interwoven with the strands and extending transversely in relation thereto, their ends projecting radially on all sides of the core.

In this way or in any convenient manner the core is completely covered with tinsel which in no wise interferes with the radially placed tinsel stri s 3 and in such a manner that the textile bre composing the core is completely concealed, givin to the garland a 100 per cent radiating sur ace instead of 75 or per cent as in the previous commercial product.V In the form shown the cord or core is wra ped externally with a wire or wires 7, pre erably of bright metal, which increase the strengh and durabilt of the construction and tend to prevent kmlcing, holding the garland in the position and contour in which it is placed.

In the new garland the central core becomes inconspicuous and when it can be distinguished, its surface so closely resembles the remainder of the garland as to be in no wise objectionable.

I have thus described specifically and in detail a tinsel garland product embodyin the feature of my invention in the preferred orm in order that the manner of constructing, applyin g and usin the product of the invention may be fully understood, however, the specilic terms hereln are used descriptively rather than in a limitin sense, the scope of the invention being de ned by the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tinsel garland consisting of a flexible central core of textile material, transverse tinsel strips and tinsel covering the core.

2. A tinsel garland consisting of a central` core of textile fibre and transverse tinsel strips, tinsel coverin the core, said coverin being interwoven with the textile materia forming the core.

3. A tinsel garland consisting of a central cord or core` of textile fibre, strands composing said core, said strands being covered with tinsel and tinsel strips extending transversely of .the core and projecting therefrom, said str1ps being interwoven with the strands.

BERNARD E. FRANKE.

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